Case diverter



J. E. TITMAS, JR 3,456,773

CASE DIVERTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi- J. 1 7 I. v 5: wi 1 E i K! |J.-...H... m E 5: f rm. Q. HI .1

INVENTOR. JOHN E. TITMAS,JR.

HTTO NEYS July 22, 1969 Filed March 7, 1967 H HHH H .HH H. Wm .H l x L.Q t SR mm mg N6 .88

J. E. TITMAS, JR

CASE DIVERTER July 22, 1969 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 7, 1967INVENTOR.

JOHN E. T-ITMHS, JE.

ATTO EVE J. E. TITMAS, JR

July 22, 1969 CASE DIVERTER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 7, 1967 -llIIm ENToR. JOHN E. TITMHSMR July 22, 1969 J. E. TITMAS, JR 3,456,773

CASE DIVERTER FiledMarch 7, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvsmoR. JOHN FTITMAQJR.

&MwAo-w% dad HTTO was 7 July 22, 1969 J. E. TITMAS, JR 3,456,773

CASE DIVERTER Filed March 7. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. JOHN E.TITMFIS, JR.

HTTOR EYS July 22, 1969 J. E. TITMAS, JR

CASE DIVERTER 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March '7, 1967 United StatesPatent US. Cl. 19820 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A casediverter for diverting selected cases from a main conveyor onto a spurconveyor while maintaining the relative positions of the faces of thecase with respect to the direction of motion having means for detectingthe cases to be selected for delivery to the spur conveyor, means formoving the leading ends of a plurality of rollers vertically upwardbetween the moving means of the main conveyor to move the selected casesonto the spur conveyor, the rollers of the spur conveyor being skewed inboth the horizontal and vertical dimensions to facilitate maintainingthe orientation of the diverted cases so that the leading faces of thecases on the main conveyor remain the leading faces of the cases on thespur conveyor.

The invention relates to case diverters which transfer selected casesfrom a main conveyor to spur conveyors which are substantiallyperpendicular to the main conveyor. In particular, the invention isdirected toward such case diverters wherein the orientation of thecases, which are diverted to the spur conveyors, is not changed, namelythe leading face of the case as it moves on the main conveyor remainsits leading face as it moves on the spur conveyor.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a case diverterwhich removes selected cases of product from a main conveyor anddelivers them to a spur conveyor which is substantially perpendicular tothe main conveyor without changing the orientation of the diverted casesor affecting the movement of other cases on the main conveyor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a case diverterwherein the diverting mechanism comprises a plurality of rollers whichare raised into the stream of the main conveyor to raise the selectedcases off the main conveyor and direct them onto the spur conveyor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a casediverter wherein the rollers in the upper position are skewed in thevertical plane so that the leading ends are higher than the trailingends and the axes of the rollers make an angle of about with thehorizontal members of the conveyor frame.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a casediverter wherein the rollers of the spur conveyor are skewed in both thevertical and horizontal planes so that the diverted cases are pulledaround to maintain their orientation.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses Will be apparentduring the course of the following description.

Broadly, the invention is directed toward sorting a mixed line of casesof products into a plurality of separate lines of cases of product tosimplify the sorting of the individual products. Thus, the single mainconveyor can deliver the cases to forming tables for the preparation oftier loads and pallet loads. If desired, the cases may also be coded topermit the formation of such loads 3,456,773 Patented July 22, 1969 witha plurality of products in each tier or successive tiers.

The cases are preferably coded in the lower left corner of one side(near the leading face). A reader is lo cated ahead of the case diverterand if the code calls for the case to be diverted at that point, thereader actuates the cam shaft and the diverter rollers are raised toengage the case and direct it onto the spur conveyor. If the code callsfor the case to remain on the main conveyor, the reader actuates the camshaft to lower the diverter rollers if they are up or to leave them downif they are down.

It is also within the contemplation of the invention to utilize heightor Width sensors or 'any other sensing means capable of distinguishingamong the various cases moving on the main conveyor. Such sensing meansmay then be used to actuate the cam shaft and the diverter rollers, asrequired.

In the drawings, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe case diverter of the invention;

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the invention showing the mainconveyor and three spur conveyors;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the main conveyor,two spur conveyors and case diverters of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of the main conveyor, one spurconveyor and diverter;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view similar to that of FIGURE 3 with the rollers andchains removed to show the driving elements for the diverter and spurconveyor rollers and the cam shaft for raising and lowering the diverterrollers;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view, viewed in the direction of arrow 5of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along lines 6 -6 of FIGURE5, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the cam showing a diverterroller in its lower position;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 showing a diverter rollerin its upper position; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, side elevational view, viewed in the directionof arrows 99 of FIGURE 1, showing the head of the main conveyor with themotor for driving the main conveyor chains.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates thecase distribution system generally. System 20 is seen to comprise(FIGURE 1) main conveyor 22, spur conveyors 24A, 24B and 24C, and codereaders 26A, 26B and 26C.

The sufiix letters are used to indicate that different product cases areselected and directed onto the particular spur conveyor by itsassociated code reader. Otherwise, the spur conveyors will be designatedas 24 and the code readers as 26.

The cases of products enter the system at its tail 28 and are carried onchains 32 toward the head 30. A case A is detected by code reader 26Aand rollers 34A are raised to contact case A to direct it onto rollers36A of spur conveyor 24A. When any code other than that of case A isread by code reader 26A, the rollers 34A are either lowered or left inthe down position and the case proceeds on chains 32 until it reachesthe proper spur conveyor.

In systems of the invention, there are occasional uncoded cases or caseswhose code is improperly read by the code readers so that they are notdiverted onto the appropriate spur conveyor. These cases are taken fromthe head ofthe main conveyor and hand palletized or otherwise disposedof.

In FIGURE 2, there is a view of the frame 38 in which the conveyors aremounted and which comprises horizontal members 40 and vertical members42. Code readers 26A, 26B and 26C are well known in the art and are, forexample, model 420DS-2 manufactured by General Atronics Corp,Philadelphia, Pa.

Chains 32 are, preferably, of the extended pitch type because the flattop surface of this type chain increases the case stability at highspeeds. The chains are mounted in U-shaped channels 44 which are affixedto frame 38.

The cases are spaced apart by metering belts or rollers prior to theirentering onto chains 32. Chains 32 are driven by motor 46 which ismounted at the head 30 (FIG- URE 9). The drive train comprises shaft 48of motor 46 on which is mounted drive sprocket 50 which drives chain 52.Chain 52 drives sprocket 54 which is located together with sprocket 56on common shaft 58. Sprocket 56 drives chain 32. There is a socket 56for each chain 32.

Diverter rollers 34 are mounted between chains 32 (FIGURE 3) and theirsurfaces are preferably formed of material such as urethane or a metalroller painted with an anti-skid coating which has a high coefficient offriction and which is manufactured by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. Thistype of surface improves the operation since it reduces the likelihoodof the diverted cases slipping. Rollers 34 and 36 run at a highervelocity than chains 32 so that the cases do not pile up at the spurconveyor and thereby block the main conveyor.

The drive train for rollers 34 and 36 and the cam shaft control forrollers 34 is illustrated in FIGURES 4-6 and the cam operation isillustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. Motor'6tl drives rollers 34 and 36 sothat they run all the time. The drive train comprises sheave 62, belt64, sheave 66, shaft 68, pulley 70 and belt 72 (FIGURE 4). All therollers 34 and 36 are driven by belt 72 as can be seen in FIGURE 5.

When a code reader 26 calls for a case to be diverted to a spur conveyor24, clutch 74 connects transmission 76 to drive belt 78 which isconnected to motor 60. The rotation of transmission 76 moves belt 80which is coupled to cam shaft 82. As cam shaft 82 rotates it moves cams84 to the upper position (FIGURE 8). When cams 84 reach the upperposition, clutch 74 is released, brake 86 is actuated and the rotationof the cam shaft is stopped. When it is necessary to lower rollers 34,brake 86 is released, clutch 74 is actuated and the cam shaft is rotateduntil cams 84 reach the position of FIGURE 7 at which point the clutch74 is released and the brake 86 stops the rotation of the cam shaft.

Rollers 34 are moved by means of cam 84 which acts against follower 88.It is seen from FIGURE 8 that the leading end 90 of roller 34 is raisedabove the other or trailing end 92 so that a portion of a roller 34 isabove the level of chain 32 and thereby engages the case which overliesit. By the term leading end is meant the end of the roller nearer thehead of the machinte. The rollers 34, in their upper position, areskewed in the vertical plane so that their axes make a vertical angle ofabout with the horizontal frame members.

Rollers 34 are mounted in carriage 98 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. Whenlow spot 96 of cam 84 contacts cam follower 88, carriage 98 which pivotson shaft 100 is in its lower position and rollers 34, which are belowthe level of chains 32, do not contact any cases which overlie them andthe cases move along the main conveyor.

When high spot 94 of cam 84 contacts cam follower 88, carriage 98 ispivoted upward about shaft 100 and rollers 34 contact the case whichoverlies it and moves it onto the spur conveyor.

Rollers 36 of the spur conveyor 24 are skewed both horizontally andvertically. Ends 102 are skewed with respect to ends 104 (FIGURE 3) byabout 5 in the horizontal plane so that the axes of the rollers make ahori- *zontal angle of about 5 with the vertical frame members.

Ends 102 are higher than ends 104 so that the rollers are skewed in thevertical plane and their axes make a vertical angle of about 5 with thehorizontal frame members. This configuration and the use of rollersurfaces having a high coefficient of friction aid in moving the casesso that their orientation remains unchanged from the main conveyor tothe spur conveyor, namely, the leading face of the case remains theleading face.

As various changes could be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A system for delivering selected cases of product from a mainconveyor to at least one spur conveyor while maintaining the leadingface of each selected case as it moves on the main conveyor as theleading face as it moves on the spur conveyor comprising:

a frame having horizontal and vertical members;

a main conveyor supported by said frame;

a plurality of rollers mounted in the frame in the stream of the mainconveyor and movable to an upper position and a lower position withrespect to the horizontal members of the frame so that in the upperposition the plurality of rollers engages the case overlying it and inthe lower position the plurality of rollers does not engage the caseoverlying it, said rollers having forward ends and rearward ends takenrelative to the movement of said main conveyor;

means for moving the plurality of rollers to either the upper positionor the lower position;

a spur conveyor making an angle with the main conveyor;

means for actuating the means for moving the plurality of rollers;

means for rotating the plurality of rollers;

the plurality of rollers being positioned such that when the rollers arein the upper positions and are rotated, the case overlying the pluralityof rollers is moved from the main conveyor onto the spur conveyor;

the plurality of rollers being skewed in the vertical plane in the upperposition so that the forward ends of the rollers are higher than therearward ends; and

a second plurality of rollers which are skewed in the vertical plane sothat the end of each roller of the second plurality of rollers in linewith the forward ends of the plurality of rollers is higher than theother end thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the spur conveyor comprises:

a second plurality of rollers which are skewed in the vertical plane sothat the end of each roller of the second plurality of rollers in linewith the leading ends of the plurality of rollers is higher than theother end thereof.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are formedof material having a high coefficient of friction; and

the axes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers in the upperposition and of the second plurality of rollers make a vertical angle ofthe order of 5 with the horizontal members of the frame.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of rollers is formed of material having a high coefiicientof friction; and

the axes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers in the upperposition make a vertical angle of the order of 5 with the horizontalmembers of the frame.

5. A system for delivering selected cases of product from a mainconveyor to at least one spur conveyor while maintaining the leadingface of each selected case as it moves on the main conveyor as theleading face as it moves on the spur conveyor comprising:

a frame having horizontal and vertical members;

a main conveyor supported by said frame;

a plurality of rollers mounted in the frame in the stream of the mainconveyor and movable to an upper position and a lower position withrespect to the horizontal members of the frame so that in the upperposition the plurality of rollers engages the case overlying it and inthe lower position the plurality of rollers does not engage the caseoverlying it, said rollers having forward ends and rearward ends takenrelative to the movement of said main conveyor;

means for moving the plurality of rollers to either the upper positionor the lower position;

a spur conveyor making an angle with the main conveyor;

means for actuating the means for moving the plurality of rollers;

means for rotating the plurality of rollers;

the plurality of rollers being positioned such that when the rollers arein the upper position and are rotated, the case overlying the pluralityof rollers is moved from the main conveyor onto the spur conveyor;

the plurality of rollers being skewed in the vertical plane in the upperposition so that the forward ends of the rollers are higher than therearward ends; and

a second plurality of rollers which are skewed in the horizontal planeso that the end of each roller of the second plurality of rollers inline with the forward ends of the plurality of rollers is forward of theother end thereof.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the second plurality of rollers isskewed in the vertical plane so that the end of each roller of thesecond plurality of rollers which is forward of its other end is higherthan the other end thereof.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein:

the main conveyor comprises a plurality of chains mounted in the frameand means for moving the chains longitudinally;

the plurality of rollers is positioned within the plurality of chains;and

the plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are formedof material having a high coefiicient of friction.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein:

the axes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers in the upperposition and of the second plurality of rollers make a vertical angle ofthe order of 5 with the horizontal members of the frame.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein:

the plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are formedof material having a high coefiicient of friction; and

the axes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers in the upperposition and of the second plurality of rollers make a vertical angle ofthe order of 5 with the horizontal members of the frame.

10. The invention of claim 5 wherein:

the plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are formedof material having a high coefficient of friction; and

the axes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers in the upperposition make a vertical angle of the order of 5 with the horizontalmembers of the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,702 7/1960 Fenton 198333,086,640 4/1963 Verrinder 19833 3,191,747 6/1965 Pollard 198-1853,291,279 12/1966 De Good et a1. 19833 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

